SYNOPSIS:
The creative minds behind Disney
Pixar's groundbreaking animated blockbusters invites you back
inside the Toys' delightful world for a heartwarming and hilarious
Hi-Definition movie experience you'll never forget. All the
original voice talent returns (including Tom Hanks and Tim
Allen) plus new talent including Michael Keaton as Ken and
Ned Beatty as Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear. It's the biggest, best,
most exciting Toy Story of them all, raves Access Hollywood.
As
Andy gets ready to leave for college, Woody, Buzz, Jessie
and the rest of the gang wonder if this is the end of the
line. But, when a mix up lands them in the Sunnyside Day Care
Center where they meet 14 new toys, they soon discover that
a wild new adventure is just beginning! Take an amazing journey
with some of the most beloved characters in movie history
and discover what being a friend is truly all about.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Everyone
out there must have a special toy in their growing up years.
It could be a rag doll, a diecast car, a teddy bear or simply
something ordinary from a fast food restaurant. But how many
of us actually treasured this piece of toy after we venture
into adulthood? What happened to our once dearest companion
who accompanied us through countless days of boredom and stormy
nights over the years?
The geniuses at Pixar once again tug the heartstrings and
trigger one’s long forgotten memories with the highly
anticipated third and final instalment of the Toy Story series.
Toy Story 3 continues the timeline with Andy, the owner of
Woody and Buzz prepping to go college which leads us to the
question of what will happen to his childhood toys. Our familiar
gang starts to get a bit fidgety and of course the leader
of the pack, Woody ensures everyone is safe and Andy is not
abandoning the lot of them. But a mix-up causes Buzz and the
gang to be sent to a daycare centre where toys are supposedly
given a second life.
With a story by the honchos at Pixar including the very busy
John Lasseter (Toy Story 1and 2, Cars), Andrew Stanton (Finding
Nemo, Wall-E), director Lee Unkrich and a screenplay by Michael
Arndt who wrote the delightful Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story
3 has proven again the existence of Pixar magical dust. The
Lamp Company’s latest effort marks the first ever animated
film in history to cross the US$1 billion mark in the box-office
and nothing is more crucial than a good plot to pull in the
audience.
All thanks to the rich relationships and characterizations
created beforehand, Toy Story 3 on many levels surpassed its
originals. It’s emotionally wrenching especially for
one particular scene set in the incinerator (the best thing
isn’t expressed in words). It’s more action packed,
adrenalin pumping than the last Indiana Jones movie and you
are talking about toys in a daycare centre. It’s funnier
than the average crude Judd Apatow movie and we are referring
to new characters such as a very spontaneous Ken and a Spaniard
Buzz. At times, it’s dark, scary and thrilling when
you encounter the main villain Lotso, the strawberry scented
bear with a broken gigantic walking baby doll at his side.
Toy Story 3 is filled to the brim with so much broth and yet
runs at a compact 103 minutes. There are literally dozens
of new characters introduced minus a few regulars such as
Wheezy, Bo Welch as a result of the passing of Joe Ranft,
a talented Pixar story writer and also a voice actor. Michael
Keaton (Ken), Whoopi Goldberg (Stretch), Timothy Dalton (Mr
Pricklepants), Kristen Schaal (Trixie) and Ned Beatty (Lotso)
are among the notable actors/actresses that joined the original
stable which includes Buzz, Woody, Mr and Mrs Potato Head,
Jessie, Rex, Hamm, Slinky Dog and Barbie. Despite the huge
numbers of eye-blogging toys, there is never a single moment
whereby the narrative and emotion goes out of hand.
The art of computer animation has improved by leaps and bounds
since the release of the first Toy Story and with part 3,
the graphics continue to dazzle with wondrous colours and
excitement and it seems it can only soar higher than ever
before. The theatrical 3D version is nothing more like a gimmick
to earn more ticket dollars and honestly I prefer DreamWorks’
"How To Train Your Dragon" in terms of the 3D technology.
Toy Story 3 in other words does not require compulsory 3D
viewing and this DVD is sufficient enough to prove it. (Though
I’m personally looking forward to check it out in Blu-ray).
Toy Story 3 is an amazing movie for the entire family, pardon
my exaggeration perhaps for every living being in the universe
and truly lives up to its predecessors. The sentimental, bittersweet
ending will unleash the tear ducts and makes you wonder what
actually happened to your once favourite companion(s). All
of a sudden, I kind of missed my bucket of little plastic
soldiers and cowboys. The power of Pixar storytelling prevails.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
The extra features start with yet another excellent
Pixar trademark short, Day & Night.
Together with Hamm, Rex and of course Buzz, Buzz Lightyear
Mission Logs: The Science Of Adventure is an educational
5 minutes which discusses the technology behind space travel.
The Gang's All Here - A Look At Returning Voice Talent
feature interviews with original voice talents Tom Hanks (Woody),
Blake Clark (Slinky Dog) and newcomers Bonnie Hunt (Dolly),
Kristen Schaal (Trixie) and Ned Beatty (Lotso).
Paths
To Pixar: Editorial is a 4 minutes feature that has
the editors at Pixar talking about their roles in crafting
Toy Story 3.
The guys and gals at Pixar is a playful lot and Studio
Stories share with us three interesting stories done
in animated form, first being Where's Gordon about a special
hidden room created by an animator, Cereal Bar shows us an
out-of-this-world eating place where all kinds of cereal that
you can imagined is stock and provided free for the Pixar
staff and lastly Clean Start tells the remarkable story of
how the crew behind Toy Story 3 shaved their heads in unison
at the beginning of production.
Toys is a 6 minutes segment that shows us
briefly how old characters liked Buzz are given a facelift
and how new ones such as Lotso are created from scratch.
A Toy's Eye View: Creating A Whole New Land
is another informative (read: hidden agenda) feature that
gives us a sneak peek to the Toy Story playland at Disneyland
Paris and soon to be built at HK Disneyland.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
Colour presentation is excellent and vibrant throughout.
I doubt there is another title in the market right now that
can match Toy Story 3’s superb CG details especially
the various characters and backdrops. The perfect audio track
benefits from the Dolby Digital 5.1 surround with precise
ambient effects, dialogues and powerfully presented across
different environments be it the daycare centre or the garbage
processing facility.
MOVIE RATING:
 
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Linus Tee
Posted on 28 October 2010
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